rkansas Wastewater Operator Certification Program:

Reg. 3.301           Requirements for and Classification of Licensed Municipal Wastewater Operators

Apprentice License

1. Issued for a maximum of six (6) months; and
2. Issued only once; and
3. The receiving operator must have never been previously licensed under this Regulation

Class I License

1. High school graduate GED or equivalent; and
2. Satisfactory completion of forty (40) hours of approved training or equivalent or substitute training as determined or defined by the Wastewater Licensing Committee and
3. Satisfactory completion of a Class I examination

Class II License

1. Hold a Class I or equivalent license; and
2. Satisfactory completion of a total of eighty (80)hours of approved training or equivalent or substitute training as determined or defined by the Wastewater Licensing Committee; and
3. Two (2) years of experience in wastewater treatment or related field; and
4. Satisfactory completion of a Class II examination; and
5. Have satisfactorily carried out the responsibilities of a Class I operator.

Class III License

1. Hold a Class II or equivalent license; and
2. Satisfactory completion of a total of one hundred twenty (120) hours or approved training as determined or defined by the Wastewater Licensing Committee; and
3. Completion of a total of three (3) years of experience in wastewater treatment or related field; provided, that at least one (1) year shall have been in wastewater treatment plant operation; and
4. Satisfactory completion of a Class III examination; and
5. Have satisfactorily carried out the responsibilities of a Class II operator.

Class IV License

1. Hold a Class III license or equivalent for at least three (3) years; and
2. Satisfactory completion of a total of two hundred (200) hours of approved training; and
3. Completion of six (6) years of experience in wastewater treatment; provided, that at least two (2) years shall have been in direct charge of a wastewater treatment plant or one of its major components; and
4. Satisfactory completion of a Class IV examination; and
5. Have satisfactorily carried out the responsibilities of a Class III operator.

Reg. 3.302           Requirements for and Classification of Technical Operators

Class I or II Technical (T) License

1. Satisfactory completion of requirements Reg. 3.301(B)(1), (2) and (3) or Reg. 3.301 (C) (1), (2) and (4) of this section chapter, respectively; and
2. Be currently employed in a related supporting occupation, e.g. employment by the Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality, or the Arkansas Department of Heath.

Class III or IV Technical (T) License

1. Satisfactory completion of requirements Reg. 3.301 (D) (1), (2) and (4) or Reg. 3.301 (E) (1), (2) and (4) of this section chapter, respectively; and
2. Be currently employed in a related supporting occupation.

Persons licensed under this section shall not be licensed as operators of wastewater treatment plants or any portion thereof.

Reg. 303               Requirements for and Classification of Special Operators

1. A licensed Professional Engineer is entitled to examination for any class license through Class III. Other educational and/or work experience may qualify an operator for similar consideration by the Committee.

Reg. 3.304           Requirements for Industrial Wastewater Operators

Apprentice License

1. Issued for a maximum of six (6) months; and
2. Issued only once; and
3. The receiving operator must have never been previously licensed under this Regulation

Class I License

1. High school graduate GED or equivalent; and
2. Satisfactory completion of a total of twelve (12) hours of approved training or equivalent or substitute training as determined or defined by the Wastewater Licensing Committee; and
3. Satisfactory completion of the Basic Industrial Wastewater Operator examination

Advanced Industrial License

1. Hold a Basic Industrial license; and
2. Satisfactory completion of a total of twenty-four (24) hours of approved training or equivalent or substitute training as determined or defined by the Wastewater Licensing Committee; and
3. Satisfactory completion of the Advanced Industrial Wastewater Operator examination.

Reg. 3.305           License Class Requirements

Any operator wishing to obtain any wastewater operator license must fulfill the license class requirements.  Any industrial operator that changes employement to a municipal, or municipal operator that changes employment at an industry, must fulfill the license class requirements to obtain that license.

Reg. 3.306           Multiple License

• Fulfill Class Requirements – Any operator that wishes to hold multiple licenses (a municipal license and an industrial license), must fulfill all of the requirements of both classes.
• Multi-License Renewals –  Those operators that hold multiple licenses may use the same renewal hours for more than one license.
• Multi-License Fees – Those operators that hold multiple licenses must pay renewal fees for each license held to keep those licenses current.

For more detailed description of Arkansas Pollution Control and Ecology Commission, Regulation No. 3, Licensing of Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators see the link below:

http://www2.adeq.state.ar.us/water/branch_enforcement/wwl/

Arkansas Environmental Training Academy

The Academy constructed a 6,000 ft2 Environmental Training Lab. The purpose of the lab is to provide hands-on training to students in a controlled atmosphere that leads to sustainable employment in the fields of public health, worker safety, renewable energy, and environmental protection throughout the State of Arkansas. AETA Trainers will utilize the lab to provide hands-on curricula that will advance and equip municipal, rural, and private entities to meet increasing regulations and ensure the public health of the citizens of Arkansas. The lab addition consists of two classrooms, 10 microbiology lab stations, water, wastewater and backflow prevention wet lab and an EHS training lab. For more information:

http://www.sautech.edu/aeta/index.aspx